A Pastoral Letter

 

Bishop John W. Yanta

October 16, 2006 - Feasts of St. Hedwig,
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Gerard Majella
Dear Family of our Diocese:

Three events fill our culture at this time of the year: the harvest, All Saints/All Souls, and voting.

Let’s make these and all the events of our life holy, pleasing to God who is glorified by our injecting faith into the various situations of human life.

Harvest Masses

First, Harvest Masses/Prayerful Celebrations. I will offer Harvest Masses on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 5:00 p.m. in White Deer, Sacred Heart Church, and at 6:30 p.m. in Panhandle, St. Theresa Church.

Please call me to offer a Harvest Thanksgiving Celebration with your pastor.

The new Ritual of Blessings (1007-1023) permits, in addition to bishops and priests, deacons and even laity to lead these celebrations if the bishop or priest can’t be secured.

These are the opening words preparing those present for the blessing:

“The Church’s supreme thanksgiving for blessings received is the offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice, and in the Church’s liturgy of the hours this Eucharistic praise of God continues through the different parts of the day.

“In this way the Church teaches us to maintain and live in an attitude of gratitude to God.

“Therefore let us now bless the Lord, who has once again bestowed on us the fruits of earth. Abel offered his first fruits to God; let us also learn to share our blessings for good of those in need, so that we may be true children the Father, who bestows his gifts for the benefit of all the peoples of the earth (Book of Blessings, 1013).

The responsorial psalm after proclaiming Acts (14:15b- 17):

"The earth has yielded its fruits; God, our God, has blessed us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him" Book of Blessings, 1016)!

I like the opening words of Intercessions:

"As we pray in gratitude for GodÕs blessing upon the work our hands, let us not forget that we must do the works of holiness in our lives" (Book of Blessings, 1018).

All Saints and All Souls

Second, All Saints and All Souls Days: a celebration of Communion of Saints.

We on earth pray for those who died and we honor all uncanonized saints in heaven, e.g., Mom and Dad, grandparents, our saintly teachers, former priest pastors and pastoring bishops, etc.

On being a saint

Want to be a saint? Saying "yes" is the first step.

Will it, make it your Number 1 goal in life.

Your "yes" must be like Mary's who became the first Christian, first Catholic, the first believer in Jesus, the best believer. Mary = model of faith.

Seek His Holy Will: The short cut to holiness drives to seek God's will every moment of every day all of your life.

Grow in Stewardship: Be generously committed with your time, talent, and treasure partnering with Jesus in building His kingdom of justice, peace, and love through Church, which He founded in the year 33 A.D.

We Catholics are blessed be the original Christians and have had the fullness of Christianity since Pentecost Sunday 33 A.D.

We know: "To whom much has been given, much is expected."

You are blessed, so you can bless others, is God's Plan.

Be passionate about God's word, His Sacraments, and sacramentals, e.g. blessing of seeds to be harvested, home blessings, blessing of an unborn child, etc.

Be convinced: Prayer is the greatest power on earth; e.g., daily Mass, daily Eucharistic hour, praying the Liturgy of the Hours 5 times daily: soaking your ground with God's rain throughout the day.

See Christ's face in every person without exception.

Bear witness to the Truth. Truth is a person: Jesus. Preach well - sometimes use words.

Walk the talk; you might be the only Bible some people will read.

Live the "Our Father", the prayer Jesus gave us. Forgiveness, simplicity of life. Asking God's power to overcome the temptations of money, unfettered freedom, and debased/depraved sexuality.

Can you live virginity before marriage, and natural family planning in marriage?

Saints are joyful because all their relationships are in order: first to the Creator, and second to all His creatures!

How would Jesus vote?

Third, time to vote.

How would Jesus vote?

You know how Jesus would vote.

The first obligation of civil authorities is to establish laws that reflect and protect proper moral order.

If the governing authority attempts to impose a law contrary to the moral order, then the citizens have a moral obligation to seek to try to change the law.

If that fails, they should refuse to obey such a law.

The Church, too, has the mission and obligation to critique and challenge any civil laws, societal organizations, or political structures that infringe upon or deny the fundamental rights of human persons and communities.

Jesus spoke of the difference between serving God and the state when he said, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God" (Mt. 22:21).

"Catholics have the duty to vote, to participate in the political arena, and to help shape society in light of Catholic teaching" (United States Catechism for Adults, pg 379-380).

From its foundations, the United States has maintained the freedom of its citizens to worship according to their consciences and has prohibited infringement upon religious freedom by the government.

For some, this leads to the conclusion that religion is a purely private matter and should not exercise a public voice in debates about moral issues.

That was not the intention of the founders of this nation. Catholics must participate in political life and bring to bear upon it - by their voice and their vote - what they have learned about human nature, human dignity, and God's will for human beings from his self-revelation.

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ is relevant for all times and all places" (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, pg. 501-502).

I repeat: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is relevant for all times and all places.

Fidelity to baptism and the other 6 sacraments.

Fidelity to the Ten Commandments.

Fidelity to the Church and its teachings:

"Guarding the deposit of faith is the mission which the Lord entrusted to His Church, and which she fulfills in every age" (opening sentence of Pope John Paul II issuing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, October 11, 1992).

Voting is a moral act. Be faithful to Jesus Christ when voting all your life especially November 7, this Election Day!

People of faith: Give thanks, Harvest Masses/ Celebrations!

People of faith: Put personal and universal salvation and saintliness as the Number 1 goal in life.

The righteous, true Christians, and faithful Catholics vote their faith as Jesus expects!

Peace and Blessings upon you and your family!

Sincerely in Christ,


Most Rev. John W. Yanta
Bishop of Amarillo